Long-Pending Bairakuppa Bridge Project Gets Karnataka Nod: Kerala PWD Minister
6 Aug 2026 1:30 PM IST6 Aug 2026 1:30 PM IST
Basheer said the Karnataka government had granted its approval for the project, which has remained pending for decades
The proposed inter-state bridge will connect Perikkalloor in Kerala's Wayanad district with Bairakuppa in Karnataka's Kodagu district. (AI generated image)
Thiruvananthapuram: Karnataka has granted the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the construction of long-pending Bairakuppa bridge across the Kabani river on the Kerala-Karnataka border, Kerala Public Works Minister P A Basheer has said. The minister said the clearance followed his discussions with Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru earlier, according to an official statement on Thursday.
In a statement, Basheer said the Karnataka government had granted its approval for the project, which has remained pending for decades.
The proposed inter-state bridge will connect Perikkalloor in Kerala's Wayanad district with Bairakuppa in Karnataka's Kodagu district, providing an alternative road link between the two states.
According to the minister, the foundation stone for the bridge was laid 36 years ago.
Later, on March 15, 2002, the then Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways gave its in-principle approval to the project.
He said the approach road on the Kerala side has already been completed, while the project's completion now hinges on the construction of the approach road in Karnataka.
Basheer said he had earlier written to the Karnataka government seeking speedy land acquisition and environmental clearances for the approach road on its side, and the latest NOC marks a major step towards the project's implementation.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to ease long-standing travel difficulties by providing a direct alternative route connecting Pulpally, Sultan Bathery, Kalpetta and Kozhikode with Mysuru and Bengaluru.
The minister said the new route would also help travellers overcome the night traffic restrictions through the Bandipur forest on National Highway 766, improve connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka, and reduce the distance between Sultan Bathery and Bengaluru by around 40 kilometres, resulting in considerable savings in travel time.
( Source : PTI )
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